New boron(III)-catalyzed amide and ester condensation reactions

In 1996, we reported that benzeneboronic acids bearing electron-withdrawing groups at the meta- or para-position are highly effective catalysts for the amide condensation reaction in less-polar solvents. In this paper, we report that N-alkyl-4-boronopyridinium halides are more effective catalysts than the previous ones in more polar solvents. N-Alkyl-4-boronopyridinium halides are effective not only for amide condensation between equimolar mixtures of carboxylic acids and amines but also for the esterification of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids in alcohol solvents. Furthermore, perchlorocatecholborane is more effective than areneboronic acids for the amide condensation of sterically demanding carboxylic acids. In addition, Lewis acid-assisted Brønsted acid (LBA), which is prepared from a 1:2 M mixture of boric acid and tetrachlorocatechol, is effective for the Ritter reaction from alcohols and nitriles to amides.